Key Takeaways
- • Aiden Pleterski, self-described "Crypto King," told Superior Court in Toronto on Thursday that he fears he may soon share a jail cell with the men who kidnapped him, in a victim impact statement read at his kidnapper's sentencing submissions, according to CBC.
- • Pleterski is representing himself at his own jury trial on charges of fraud over $5,000 and money laundering, which he has pleaded not guilty to; he had cross-examined only the first of a dozen Crown witnesses so far.
- • Pleterski blamed the kidnapping for his inability to keep a steady job and for financial difficulties that have left him unable to pay for a lawyer.
- • Deren Akyeam-Pong pleaded guilty to nine charges tied to the December 2022 kidnapping; the Crown seeks a 23-year sentence, while defence counsel Craig Zeeh requests 12 years.
- • The Crown alleges Pleterski guaranteed investor funds for trading but never invested them, instead spending the money on exotic cars, private jet flights, lavish shopping and credit card bills running into the millions.
Summary
Self-described "Crypto King" Aiden Pleterski read a victim impact statement at the sentencing submissions hearing for Deren Akyeam-Pong, the man who kidnapped him, in Superior Court in Toronto on Thursday. Pleterski, 27, said the kidnapping has forced him to forgo normal routines, including steady employment, as a safety precaution, and that this has led to significant financial difficulties. He said his inability to pay for a lawyer to defend himself against what he called false allegations made by the accused and others is the most significant consequence. "The thought that I may soon end up sharing a jail cell with my kidnappers has completely debilitated my ability to think clearly through this," he told the court, adding that he cannot sleep at night.
Pleterski's jury trial is underway in the same courthouse. He has pleaded not guilty to fraud over $5,000 and money laundering. So far he has cross-examined only the first of a dozen witnesses called by the Crown. Crown prosecutor Scott Patterson alleges Pleterski guaranteed the money investors gave him for trading but never invested it, spending the funds on himself instead, including on exotic cars, private jet flights, lavish shopping and credit card bills that ran into the millions.
Akyeam-Pong pleaded guilty last October to nine charges related to the December 5, 2022 abduction, including kidnapping, assault and gun offences. According to the agreed statement of facts, Pleterski was threatened and tortured over a three-day period, including waterboarding, cigarette burns and beatings with golf clubs, as his captors drove him between several locations in southern Ontario. Tracey Vogel, the Crown prosecutor in the kidnapping sentencing, is seeking 23 years for the kidnapping conviction and a separate conviction on eight gun and drug-related offences. Defence lawyer Craig Zeeh is requesting 12 years. Sentencing submissions were expected to continue Thursday and Friday, and Pleterski's fraud trial was expected to resume Friday. Three other men have also been charged in the kidnapping, with their trial expected later this year.
Pleterski's jury trial is underway in the same courthouse. He has pleaded not guilty to fraud over $5,000 and money laundering. So far he has cross-examined only the first of a dozen witnesses called by the Crown. Crown prosecutor Scott Patterson alleges Pleterski guaranteed the money investors gave him for trading but never invested it, spending the funds on himself instead, including on exotic cars, private jet flights, lavish shopping and credit card bills that ran into the millions.
Akyeam-Pong pleaded guilty last October to nine charges related to the December 5, 2022 abduction, including kidnapping, assault and gun offences. According to the agreed statement of facts, Pleterski was threatened and tortured over a three-day period, including waterboarding, cigarette burns and beatings with golf clubs, as his captors drove him between several locations in southern Ontario. Tracey Vogel, the Crown prosecutor in the kidnapping sentencing, is seeking 23 years for the kidnapping conviction and a separate conviction on eight gun and drug-related offences. Defence lawyer Craig Zeeh is requesting 12 years. Sentencing submissions were expected to continue Thursday and Friday, and Pleterski's fraud trial was expected to resume Friday. Three other men have also been charged in the kidnapping, with their trial expected later this year.
Go deeper than the headline
Research every firm in this story, track the ones that matter and get the daily briefing — free for 7 days.